“These five primetime games demonstrate the ability of
the Big Ten Network to air compelling programming on a national stage,” said Big
Ten Network President Mark
Silverman. “Not only will Big Ten fans be able to see the games
nationally, but they will enjoy in-depth analysis from the first network to be dedicated solely to
the Big Ten.”
The Big Ten Network primetime
schedule kicks off during the opening weekend of action at 8 p.m. EDT on Sept. 1
with an in-state battle between Indiana and
Indiana
State, just the second
meeting between the two programs since 1925. The network’s second night time
tilt features a game between Iowa and
Syracuse at 7
p.m. CDT on Sept. 8, a rematch of the Hawkeyes’ double overtime road victory in
2006. Non-conference primetime play continues on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. CDT when
Northwestern meets Duke for the 15th time since
1985.
The Big Ten Network will also feature a
pair of Homecoming contests under the lights. Indiana will make its second primetime appearance on the
network when it faces a road test against Michigan State and new head coach Mark Dantonio on
Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. EDT. The Hoosiers knocked off the Spartans last season for
just the second time in 10 seasons to reclaim the Old Brass Spitoon, which has
gone to the victor in this series since 1950. The conference’s other new head
coach will make a primetime appearance on the network on Nov. 3, when Tim Brewster leads Minnesota in a home tilt against Illinois at 7 p.m. CDT, the
first meeting between the two schools since 2004.
The entire 2007 Big Ten Network football schedule and
other programming details will be announced in the months leading up to the
network’s August launch.
2007 Big Ten Network Primetime
Football Schedule:
Sept. 1 -- Indiana
State at Indiana, 8 p.m.
EDT
Sept. 8 -- Syracuse at
Iowa, 7 p.m.
CDT
Sept. 15 -- Duke at Northwestern, 7 p.m.
CDT
Oct. 13 -- Indiana at
Michigan
State, 7 p.m.
EDT
Nov. 3 -- Illinois at
Minnesota, 7
p.m. CDT
The Big Ten will hold the 2007 Football Media Days and
36th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 31 to August 1, at
the Hyatt Regency Chicago, featuring all 11 head coaches and some of the
conference’s top returning players. The 112th season of Big Ten football kicks
off on Saturday, Sept. 1, with all 11 schools in
action.
The Big Ten Network is a national television network,
available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide, that will allow fans
to see their home teams regardless of where they live. The network currently has national agreements in place with
DirecTV and AT&T, and discussions with other cable and satellite providers
are continuing.